Compressor



I 1,632 562 June 14,1927. v WIGEIROLAFF I v COMPRESSOR Filed June 1. 1925 I5 Sheets-Sheet 1 A TTORNEY June 14 1927. 1,632,562

. w. G. E. ROLAFF COMPRESSOR Filed June 1, 1925 3 Sheet sh t 2 I 1 J7 Z9 l /6 J J I J L j INVENTOR WHLTER G5. fioulff ATTORNEY June 14, 1927.

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J J k Z0 f 122/ a5 INVEN TOR MINER G5. FOL/[FF A TTORNE Y Patent ed June 14, 1927.

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Application filed June 1,- 1925. Serial to. 33,952.

, This invention relates to improvements in rotary compressors, designed more particularly for use in the art of mechanical refrigeratiombut, in principle, equally ap' plicable for use in the general art of displacing liquids and gases.

Certain broad principles of the invention are described and claimed in a companion application filed of even date herewith, in their embodiment of a rotary pump in .which the rotor engages directly with the end walls of the cylinder.

In the present invention, I employ a rotor having a unitary head, preferably formed integral with the rotor, the end of the rotor and the inner wall of the head engaging opposite ends of the cylinder, respectively, and 1. provide automatic means for maintaining the rotor and head in sealing contact with the ends of the cylinder.

The present invention is characterized by the provision of a combined rotor and head forming sealing contact with the end walls of the cylinder and longitudinally movable to permit escape of the compressed medium or refrigerant from the cylinder when the pressure therein becomes excessive.

It is further characterized, as indicated above, by the provision of automatic means for maintaining the movable rotor and head in sealing contact with the ends of the cylinder. 1n the preferred embodimentof theiuvcntion, I utilize pressure developed by the machine forefi'ecting and maintaining such sealing contact; but I may also supplement the use of developed pressure for this I purpose by suitable springs, so that the initial functioning of the machine in compressing may be facilitated.

The invention is further characterlzed by i the use of. a blade located in a slot in the wall of the cylinder, and co-operating with the surface of the rotor to effect sealing contact therewith, and the employment of pressure developed by the machine for maintaining such sealing contact.

Finally, the invention is characterized by the provision of an oil chamber or space located within the machine and subject to the pressure developed by compression, the oil under pressure communicating with the blade slot and bearing directly upon the blade to force and maintain the members thereof in sealing contact with the surface of the rotor and the ends of. the cylinder,

' respectively. i

' The invention is'illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which-- Figure 1 'is a view partly in longitudinal section and partly in elevation showing an J embodiment of my invention; and

Figure 2 is a view partly in cross-section and partly in elevation of the machim shown in Figure 1, and

Figure3 is a view similar to Figure 1, but illustrating a modification in the bearing for the rotor.

Referring now to'the drawings, the numeral 1 indicates a casing, comprlsing end sections 2 and 3, bolted to a central annular section 4, the inner surface 5 of which con stitutes the working surface of a cylinder having working chamber 6. The inner face 7 of the end section 2 of the casing forms one wall of this cylinder, and the other wall is formed by a head 8, preferably formed integral with a hollow rotor 9, the end of which bears against the flat face 7 of the end section 2 to form a sealing contact therewith for the chamber 6. The inner side 0 the head 8, in like manner, bears against an annular flange 10 on the annular section 4 to form a sealing contact at this end of the cylinder for the chamber 6. Each of the sections 2 and 3 is recessed, as indicated at 11 and 12, respectively, to provide space for anti-friction bearings 13, 14, in which bearings is mounted a drive shaft 15. The annular rotor 9 is mounted on the shaft 15 in such manner as to provide for automatically producing and maintaining a sealing contact with the wall5 of the cylinder, and also to be self-alining therewith.

To this end, I provide on the shaft 15, an eccentric 16, which is circular in cross-section, and mount on this eccentric an eccentric sleeve 17. That is to say, the sleeve 17 has an eccentric bore which fits on the eccentric 16 so as to be capable of rotating thereon, the construction providing a double eccentric, which functions. automatically as a. takeup for the space between the rotor and the cylinder.

Mounted on the eccentric sleeve 17 to extend between the same and the inner wall of rotor 9 is a single self-alining bearing 18, which supports the rotor. This bearing, in combination with the eccentric sleeve 17, allows universal alinement of the rotor to the cylinder wall, both as to parallelism and plane. The stufiing box for the end of the shaft which projects through the wall of the cylinder is in the form of a metal bellows 19, one end of. which is screwed on the shaft 15, as indicated at 20, and the other end of which bears against an inner wall 21, constituting the outer wall of the bearing recess 12, which wall is provided with a shaft opening 22 of larger diameter than the shaft, through which the medium being compressed can pass into the bellows 19, which will, accordingly, expand and force its other end, which is in the form of a packing ring, 23 firmly against the outer side of the wall 21 to make sealing contact therewith and prevent the escape of the compressed medium. The bellows 19 is located in a chamber 24, cast in the casing section 3, which chamber is closed by a plate 25, apertured to permit the driving end of the shaft to pass through it.

Referring to Figure 2, the muneral 26 indicates an inlet or suction port, through which the medium to be compressed may pass or be sucked in the operation of the compressor, and the numeral 27. an outlet from the cylinder, which is provided with any suitable form of check valve 28. The ports 26 and 27 are preferably provided in castings formed integral with the cylinder,

and intermediate these ports, a casting 29 is provided in which is located a slot 30, which is of the length of the cylinder chamber 6, and in this slot is located a blade 31 which is preferably of the self-packing type of my prior Patent No. 1,280,306, dated October 1, 1918. This blade may be briefly described as comprising a back-plate 32 (Figure 2), having at its outer end a shoulder 33, extending throughout the length and of the width of the slot, on which back-plate are mounted two tapered packing-plates 34 and 35 (Figure 1) and in the wedge-shaped space between these packing-plates, a freely movable wedge-plate 36. This blade may be held in sealing contact with the surface of the rotor 11 by any suitable elastic means, such as a spring or fluid, as shown and described in my companion application referred to, but I prefer to use a fluid, and, specifically, to utilize the lubricant employed in the system for this purpose. To this end, the outer end of the slot 80 terminates in a small chamber 37 with which communicates one end of a pipe 38, which is screwed into the annular section 4, the other end of said pipe being screwed into the wall of the cas ing section 3 near the bottom thereof to communicate with an annular chamber 39, pro vided therein, and which surrounds a central inwardly-projecting cylindrical casting 40, in which is housed the bearing 14 and bellows 19, previously described. This casting is anintegrai part of the casing section 3.

The chamber 39 is supplied with a suitable lubricant, such as oil or glycerine, the level of which in the chamber is maintained at about the height indicated by the dotted line 41. Mounted on top of the casing section 3 is an oil separating chamber 42, which communicates with the chamber 39 by means of a pipe 4?. Leading from the upper end of this chamber is a pipe 44, which, when the compressor is combined in a refrigerating system, conducts the compressed gaseous refrigerant from the chamber 42 to the ordinary condenser. Connected with the outlet port 27 is a pipe 45 (Figure 2) which conducts the compressed gas and oil from the compressor to the oil separating chamber 42. In this chamber, the oil separates from the refrigerant and flows back into the chamber 39 while. the gaseous refrigerant passes out through pipe 44 to the condenser, as stated.

In the operation of the device, as the shaft 15 rotates, the combined operation of the double eccentric 16 and 17 causes the rotor 9 to gyrate, or roll over the surface of the wall of the cylinder chamber 6. In this operation, the medium to be compressed which, in connection with the art or refrigeration, would be a suitable gas, such as methyl chloride, will be drawn in through the port 26, compressed in the chamber 6, and forced out through the port 27. A certain amount of lubricant in the chamber 39 will pass out with the gas, and gas and lubricant will be forced through pipe 45 into chamber 42 in the manner previously stated. The lubricant in the chamber 39 will be under pressure, as chamber 39 communicates with chamber 42 into which the compressed gas is delivered, which causes the lubricant to be forced through pipe 38 into the small chamber 37 above the blade 31, upon which it exerts its pressure and forces the lower edge of the blade into sealing contact with the surface of the rotor 9. Ordinarily, the oil can leak past the flange 33 to exert its pressure upon the wedge-plate 36. If desired, however, a small aperture 46 may be provided in the flange 33 to permit the pressure of the oil to be exerted directly upon the wedge-plate 36 to force the pack ing plates 34 and 35 into sealing contact with the end wall 7 of the cylinder and with the inner face of the head 8.

It is" not absolutely essential that any means should be employed for forcing the head 8 into sealing contact with the flange 10 of the cylinder, as after a few moments of operation, sufficient pressure will be developed on the oil in the chamber 39 to cause the latter to force the head into sealing contact with said flange. If desired, however, suitable springs 47 may be located in the chamber 39 to exert pressure upon the heads, so that the operation of compression may start simultaneously with the rotation of the shaft 15.

ill)

The action of the dOJJblQ eccentric comprising the shaft eccentric l6 and the eccentric sleeve 17 has been fully set forth in my companion application referred to, and it need only be said here, in the interest of a complete umlerstanding of the invention, that these eccentrics operate through the medium of the self-alining bearing 18 to force the rotor outward into engagement with the wall of the chamber 6-. Further, that these eccentrics operate to maintain a constant automatic adjustment of the rotor to compensate for wear. Furthermore, the contact pressure of the rotor with-the wall ofthe cylinder will he in direct proportion to the resistance offered to the mov'e ment of the-rotor by the degree of pressure within the chamber 6, due to the resistance offered by the medium being compressed. This is due to the fact that, with increased resistance to the movement of the rotor, the latter is automatically forced into firmer contact with the wall of the cylinder by the action of the eccentrics. Sealing contact of the rotor with the wall of the cylinder is, therefore, always maintained. I

A highly important feature of the invention is the fact that I employ a floating head 8 which is integral with the rotor and which may yet move away from the flange 10 to permit the escape of compressed gas from the chamber 6 under a condition of excessive pressure in said chamber. This is due to the fact that the rotor 9 is not fixed on the shaft 15, but is slidably mounted on the outer ring of the bearing 18 and is thus free to move longitudinally. This construction is of very great advantage, as it provides for the release of pressure within the chamber 6 in the simplest possible way, avoids the use of check valves and the like, and hence permits of the employment of the minimum number of parts for the compressor. Furthermore, as the inner surface of the head is constantly wiping the surface of the flange 10, the zone of contact between the floating head and said flange is maintained smooth and clean, and leakage of refrigerant past the head is prevented.

Referring now to Figure 3, I here illustrate a construction of bearing for use in a machine of the same type as that illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, but of such size as to require more than one bearing to support the rotor. In this case, bearings of the selfalining type, such as shown in Figure 1, would, alone, not answer the purpose, as two self-alining bearings on the same shaft would not allow of any alinement of the shaft with any other element not already parallel with it.

To overcome this objection, I employ a plurality of anti-friction bearings 48 mounted upon the eccentric sleeve 17 and surrounded by an annular member or ring bearing 49, which, on its periphery, is machined to the shape of a correct segment of a sphere, and on this annular member, I mount the rotor 9. This arrangement allows longitudinal movement of the rotor, so that. the latter mayadjust itself to the end of the cylinder. It also allows the rotor to adjust itself parallel to the cylinder walls in, any

direction, because it is essentially, in principle, a universal joint or bearing. This construction involves the same principle of adjustment as shown, described and claimed in my prior Patent No. 1,441,375, dated January 9th, 1923. In this prior arrangement, however, the bearing is external of an eccentrically n'iounted rotatable cylinder,

while in the present case. the bearing is ap-- plied on the interior of the rotor.

- In all respects other than the bearing for the rotor, the construction and operation of the machine shown. in Figure 3 is the same as that shown in Figure 1, and no further detailed description thereof nced'be given.

\Vhile I have described my invention in its embodiment in a gyratory compressor or pump, I wish it understood that my im-' proved device is equally applicable for use as a prime mover, 1n which application compressed air or any other medium under prcssure could be supplied through the suction side of the device, or, by removing the valve, such pressure medium could be supplied through the exhaust port of the machine. Such adaptations, and changes are well known to those skilled in the art, and are mentioned here to illustrate that the invention, in its broadest aspect, is capable of the uses or applications stated.

I claim:

1. In a machine of the class described, in combination with a cylinder, a rotor eccentrically mounted therein for gyratory movement within the cylinder and in rolling engagement with the wall thereof and having releasable contact with both ends of the cylinder, and means for positioning the rotor ends in exactline with the cylinder ends.

' 2. In a machine of the class described, in combination with a cylinder, a rotor eccentrically mounted therein for gyratoiy movement within the cylinder and in rolling engagement with the wall thereof and having releasable contact with both ends of the cylinder, and means for automatically positioning the rotor ends in exact line with the cylinder ends.

3. In a machine of the class described, in combination with a stationary cylinder, a hollow rotor mounted within the cylinder, means including a shaft for imparting movement to said rotor to cause it to functionally co-operate with the wall of said cylinder, a plurality of bearings surrounding said shaft, and an annular member surrounding said bearings and mounted within and supporting said rotor, the periphery of said member engaged by the inner wall of said rotor having the shape of a true segment of a sphere, whereby said rotor may adjust itself to correspond with lateral displacement of the shaft from its true right line position.

4. In a machine of the class described, in combination with a cylinder, a drive shaft mounted therein, a double compensating eccentric mounted on said shaft, annular bearings surrounding said eccentrics, 'an annular member surrounding said bearings and having a periphery shaped to a true segment of a sphere, and a hollow rotor rotatably mounted on said annular member.

5. In a machine of the class described, in combination with a cylinder, a rotor mounted for movement within the cylinder in cooperative relation with the wall thereof, said rotor having an end releasably engag ing one end of the cylinder and a unitary head releasably engaging the other end of the cylinder, and means for holding said head and the end of the rotor in fluid-tight contact with the respective ends of the cylinder.

6. In a machine of the class described, in combination with a stationary cylinder, a rotor mounted for gyratory movement within the cylinder, said rotor having an end releasably engaging one end of the cylinder and provided with a unitary head releasably engaging the other end of the cylinder, and means for holding said head and the end of the rotor in fluid-tight contact with the respective ends of the cylinder.

7. In a machine of the class described, in combination with a cylinder, a rotor mounted for movement within the cylinder in cooperative relation with the wall thereof, said rotor having an end releasably engaging one end of the cylinder and a unitary head releasably engaging the other end of the cylinder, and automatic means for holding said head and the end of the rotor in fluid-tight contact with the respective ends of the cylinder.

8. In a machine of the class described, in combination with a cylinder, a rotor mountcd for movement within the cylinder, in cooperative relation with the wall thereof, said rotor having an end releasably engaging one end of the cylinder and a unitary head releasably engaging the other end of the cylinder, and means for holding said head and the end of the rotor in fluid-tight contact with the respective ends of the cylinder by the use of pressure developed by the machine.

9. In a machine of the class described, in combination with a stationary cylinder, a rotor mounted within the cylinder, said rotor having an end releasably engaging one end of the cylinder and a unitary head releasably engaging the other end of the cylinder, means for imparting movement to said rotor to cause it to functionally co-operate with the wall of said cylinder, means for holding said head and the end of the rotor in fluid-tight contact with the respective ends of the cylinder, a laterally expanding blade located in a slot in the cylinder wall and engaging at its inner edge the surface of said rotor, and at its ends, the end of said cylinder and the inner side of said head, respectively, and means for utilizing pressure developed within the machine for maintaining said blade in fluid-tight contact with the rotor.

10. In a construction and arrangement as described in claim 9, the use of pressure developed within the machine for maintaining the blade in fluid-tight contact with the surface of the rotor and the end of the cylinder and inner side of the head, and for maintaining the end of the rotor and the inner side of said head in fluid-tight contact with the ends of the cylinder.

11. In a machine of the class described, in combination with a stationary cylinder, a rotor mounted within the cylinder, said rotor having an end releasably engaging one end of the cylinder and a unitary head releasably engaging the other end of the cylinder, means for imparting movement to said rotor to cause it to functionally co-operate with the wall of said cylinder, a blade slidablv mounted in a slot in the cylinder wall and having its end engaging the outer surfaces of said rotor, and means for utilizing pressure developed within the machine for maintaining said blade in fluid-tight contact with the surface of the rotor and for holdin the end of said rotor and said head in fiui tight contact with the respective ends of the cylinder.

12. In a machine of the class described, in combination with a stationary cylinder, a drive shaft mounted therein, an eccentric mounted on said shaft, a rotor rotatably mounted on said eccentric, said rotor havin an end releasably engaging one end of said cylinder and a unitary head releasably engaging the other end of said cylinder, and means for maintaining said head and the end of the rotor in fluid-tight contact with the respective ends of the cylinder.

13. In a machine of the class described, in combination with a stationary cylinder, a drive shaft mounted therein, a double compensating eccentric mounted on said shaft, a rotor rotatably mounted on said double eccentric, said rotor having an end releasably engaging one end of said cylinder and a unitary head releasably engaging the other end of said cylinder, and means for maintaining said head and the end of the rotor in fluid-tight contact with the respective ends of the cylinder.

, 14. In a machine of the class described, in combination with a cylinder, a slidablymounted rotor mounted for movement within the cylinder in co-operative relation with the wall thereof and havin means engaging the end walls of the cylin er to form sealing contact therewith, and means for releasably holding the rotor in sealing contact with said end walls of the cylinder.

15. ha machine of the class described, in combination with a cylinder, a drive shaft mounted therein, a rotor slidably mounted on said drive shaft and adapted to be moved thereby in co-operative relation with the wall of the cylinder, said rotor having means engagingopposite end walls of the cylinder to form sealing contact therewith, and automatic means for releasably holding said rotor in fluid-tight contact with the respec-- tive ends of the cylinder.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

WALTER G. E. ROLAFF. 

